Tottenham face Auckland FC in pre-season friendly at Eden Park

Tottenham Hotspur step onto the pitch at Eden Park on Sunday, 26 July 2026, to face Auckland FC in a pre-season friendly that offers supporters their first public glimpse of a heavily reshaped squad under manager Roberto De Zerbi, according to Yahoo Sports. The fixture arrives after Tottenham started their pre-season preparations with a victory behind closed doors against MK Dons.

The meeting in New Zealand comes amid considerable pressure and scrutiny. Following successive seventeenth-place finishes in the Premier League, the club has invested heavily in the transfer market, committing substantial funds exceeding two hundred million pounds across six new arrivals. Yet, turbulence accompanies the rebuild. Midfielder Lucas Bergvall has submitted a transfer request in the hopes of improving his playing time and finding opportunities to play as his preferred number eight. Bergvall has grown frustrated by a lack of contact with De Zerbi, leading to the belief that he is not in the manager's plans. His contract runs until 2031, and while he is open to a move anywhere in Europe, he hopes to stay in the Premier League.

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According to Aol, Tottenham have already rejected bids from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle for the young midfielder. Despite pushing for a move away from north London, Bergvall made the trip to New Zealand with his teammates. De Zerbi addressed the situation from the tour base, stating he is prepared to let unsettled players depart and emphasizing his desire to work exclusively with fully committed players who are proud to represent the club.

"Who doesn't want to stay in Tottenham, who is not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave"

Roberto De Zerbi, Manager, via AOL

De Zerbi added that he intends to hold direct talks with Bergvall in the coming days to determine the best path forward alongside key figures at the club, including Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham, to resolve the situation in a way that suits all parties. The manager reiterated that he wants proud players with strong motivation to step onto the pitch at Tottenham Stadium.

The traveling party in the Southern Hemisphere numbers thirty-five players, though several notable figures are missing. According to EPL Index, new signing Marcos Senesi remained behind, while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario stayed in England with what the club described as a minor knock. Uncertainty also surrounds the futures of Vicario and Cristian Romero amid ongoing transfer links, which complicates pre-season rhythm and requires the manager to read the market and find alternatives quickly. Furthermore, players involved in the latter stages of the World Cup—specifically Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur—have been granted extended leave or stayed back after deep tournament involvement. Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero and Djed Spence, all involved deep into that tournament, have also stayed back. Several senior figures including Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert also remain at Hotspur Way recovering from long-term injuries.

These absences have stripped the squad of experience and creativity, opening the door for emerging talent. Youngsters such as Luca Williams-Barnett, who caught the eye against MK Dons, and Mikey Moore are expected to feature prominently as they audition for regular first-team roles during what is often dressed up as a commercial exercise. Meanwhile, Auckland FC enters the contest presenting a stern test in front of a projected record-breaking crowd at Eden Park.

Match Details and Broadcast Information

• Date: Sunday, 26 July 2026
• Kick-off: 4:00 AM BST / 8:30 AM IST
• Location: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
• Live Streaming: SPURSPLAY

Following the fixture against Auckland FC, Tottenham will travel to Australia to continue their pre-season preparations with subsequent matches booked against Sydney FC and Chelsea.